Budget APS-C wide landscape lens below $200

Saltwater Images · 02-21-2019, 09:28 AM - **1 Like**

There was a used DA 21 (green ring) that sold for $220 recently on the Pentax Forums Buy/Sell thread. Look for one there. If you're patient you'll do well. The 21 is a fantastic wide-normal optic. Of all my DA Limited's (I have the family) the 21 is the most used.

**BigMackCam** · 02-21-2019, 10:50 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Saltwater Images

The 21 is a fantastic wide-normal optic. Of all my DA Limited's (I have the family) the 21 is the most used.

+1

It's a lovely lens and very capable indeed.

rr1736 · 02-21-2019, 11:04 AM - **1 Like**

Spend a little more and get the Rokinon 14 F2.8 manual focus lens $250 at Adorama it is A GREAT lens if you do not mind manual focus and it is full frame should you move into a full frame camera in the future

billdotjr · 02-21-2019, 11:27 AM

Thank you all for the tips. As said, the budget is around $100 for the moment, $200 is the extreme upper limit. By the way, here in Europe, the Rokinon 14mm F2.8, marketed as Samyang, costs like $450.

Regarding the wide / normal lens, I am well aware the 28mm is almost exactly normal, I should have said "on the wider end of the focal range spectrum". Reason I emphasized the wide(r) is that usually the landscape lens discussions end up having lot of people suggesting telephoto lenses 100mm+ argumenting they are good as well. But those I already have. I need ~28mm.

**pres589** · 02-21-2019, 11:34 AM

There's always some oddballs from the film era that might work out, like this Promaster branded 19-35 zoom;

Promaster 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Spectrum 7 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

My Pentax M 28 f2.8 mk2 is quite nice and I think it cost me about $70 shipped to my door via ebay. Lots of options in old primes at 28mm.

You probably just have to look and see what's available to you locally or what you're willing to have shipped in from ebay.

MrB1 · 02-21-2019, 01:29 PM - **1 Like**

If you are capturing landscapes with little movement, you could go wide angle by making composite images. E.g. Stitching four portrait-oriented shots from the K-5 plus the $100 plastic fantastic 35mm f/2.4 (very sharp) could give a very high resolution (up to 40MP) 2:1 landscape-oriented image. If you haven't got the software already, something like Microsoft ICE is free and does a good job.

Philip

johnyates · 02-21-2019, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by pres589

I would be looking at manual focus primes to try and meet your cost target which I read is $100ish. Sigma Super-Wide II's are around there.

Excellent suggestion. The Sigma 24mm f2.8 is an excellent lens. I use mine a LOT. A very useful focal length. It's very sharp. I paid less than $100 for mine.

billdotjr · 02-21-2019, 02:04 PM - **2 Likes**

Wow, so I have just spotted Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 which according to some is just little behind the K 28mm f/3.5 for unbeliveable €44 shipped and within the country. The listing was just couple minutes old. I bought it. I am now wondering what piece of scrap metal I will be receiving. Wish me luck...

**pepperberry farm** · 02-21-2019, 02:06 PM

Tamron Adaptall-2 01BB (01B)
24mm f2.5, with the PK-A adapter... I've been able to find the pair for less than $100...

**c.a.m** · 02-21-2019, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by billdotjr

Wow, so I have just spotted Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 which according to some is just little behind the K 28mm f/3.5 for unbeliveable €44 shipped and within the country. The listing was just couple minutes old. I bought it. I am now wondering what piece of scrap metal I will be receiving. Wish me luck...

Wow, lucky spotting! Seems to be a very good shipped price and relatively local.

The M 28/3.5 is often preferred over the M f/2.8 model – it exhibits better corner-to-corner sharpness and high contrast, and produces gorgeous image colour. Like other M-series prime lenses, this one is well built, compact, and lightweight. It’s a good alternative to the harder-to-find and more-expensive SMC ‘K’ version.

If it's in good condition, I think you will enjoy it. And well within the budget -- a bonus!

- Craig

kypfer · 02-21-2019, 05:09 PM

Originally posted by pres589

28mm on a crop Pentax is not wide, it's almost perfectly normal, which is why I love 28's on crop.

Agreed

My Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f/2.5 is as good as any I've tried and still available relatively cheaply, especially if you're prepared to forgo open-aperture metering and use one of the older adaptors in stop-down Manual (Green Button) mode. Only possible downside, at 200gm (with mount) it's heavier than some others.

MaineNative · 02-21-2019, 05:52 PM - **1 Like**

I would also vote for the DA 21mm if you can find a good used one. I have the original (non-HD) version and love it for landscapes. One comment on your 18-55... if you like the zoom range, the AL II version was a significant improvement in resolution over the original 18-55 kit lens that came on the istDL. (I owned both versions.)

stevebrot · 02-21-2019, 07:28 PM

As noted above, the question is what budget wide angle for landscape use on APS-C for under $200. Part of the answer is that 28mm does not have a wide angle FOV on APS-C and while the focal length may be used for landscape, it is not very wide. Something in the 18mm to 20mm range might work much better.

Which takes us to the recurring sad, sad story of budget wide-angle choices on APS-C. Things are better now, but truth be told, quality options below $200 are few and far between and have been since pretty much forever for APS-C cameras. The Samyang options are probably some of the more reasonable, particularly if you can find one used. I wish I could suggest a vintage lens to meet your needs, but anything 20mmm and shorter was exotic back-in-the-day and the better examples were expensive at the time and remain expensive now.

You best options might be the wide end of one of the better Pentax wide-normal zooms.

Originally posted by billdotjr

I need ~28mm.

Ok...have it your way.

Get a Vivitar 28/2.8 Close Focus (Komine-made, ser# 28xxxxxx) and be happy. If you can find one with the "A" position on the aperture ring, even better. I have one, but it's not for sale. Neither is my Tamron 28/2.5 (01B), which, to be honest, is better than the Viv. Those two are my recommendations.

There are several direct comparison photos for the Tamron and the Vivitar in this album...https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/1776-stevebrot/albums/405-lens-camera-tests/

Steve

**kernos** · 02-21-2019, 08:36 PM

This is not a common lens, but one of only a handful of manual focus lenses I use all the time. Spiratone Plura-Coat 24mm 2.8 YS. Mine was $79 with shipping a few years ago. They come up from time to time. Mostly I use it for close focus and even on extension tubes. Spiratone 24mm F2.8 YS Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

**pres589** · 02-22-2019, 07:55 AM

A 28mm Kino Precision made lens, either the f2 or f2.8, isn't shabby. Usually findable at under $100 in decent condition. I paid $150 for a copy of the f2 version, shipped, after it had been CLA'd by someone know to do good work at this sort of thing. Get a hood that matches the lens on crop; the coatings are not that hot vs. similar era SMC, to say nothing of today's HD coatings from Pentax. Kino also made 24's which I think are pretty decent as well. Build quality is quite good although most of their lenses seem to suffer from sticky aperture blades so watch for that.

02-21-2019, 07:28 PM	#28
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	As noted above, the question is what budget wide angle for landscape use on APS-C for under $200. Part of the answer is that 28mm does not have a wide angle FOV on APS-C and while the focal length may be used for landscape, it is not very wide. Something in the 18mm to 20mm range might work much better. Which takes us to the recurring sad, sad story of budget wide-angle choices on APS-C. Things are better now, but truth be told, quality options below $200 are few and far between and have been since pretty much forever for APS-C cameras. The Samyang options are probably some of the more reasonable, particularly if you can find one used. I wish I could suggest a vintage lens to meet your needs, but anything 20mmm and shorter was exotic back-in-the-day and the better examples were expensive at the time and remain expensive now. You best options might be the wide end of one of the better Pentax wide-normal zooms. Originally posted by billdotjr I need ~28mm. Ok...have it your way. Get a Vivitar 28/2.8 Close Focus (Komine-made, ser# 28xxxxxx) and be happy. If you can find one with the "A" position on the aperture ring, even better. I have one, but it's not for sale. Neither is my Tamron 28/2.5 (01B), which, to be honest, is better than the Viv. Those two are my recommendations. There are several direct comparison photos for the Tamron and the Vivitar in this album...https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/1776-stevebrot/albums/405-lens-camera-tests/ Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 02-21-2019 at 08:26 PM.

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02-21-2019, 09:28 AM - 1 Like	#16
Saltwater Images Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Newfoundland Photos: Gallery Posts: 501	There was a used DA 21 (green ring) that sold for $220 recently on the Pentax Forums Buy/Sell thread. Look for one there. If you're patient you'll do well. The 21 is a fantastic wide-normal optic. Of all my DA Limited's (I have the family) the 21 is the most used.

02-21-2019, 10:50 AM - 1 Like	#17
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,670	Originally posted by Saltwater Images The 21 is a fantastic wide-normal optic. Of all my DA Limited's (I have the family) the 21 is the most used. +1 It's a lovely lens and very capable indeed.

02-21-2019, 11:04 AM - 1 Like	#18
rr1736 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Chicago Illinois Photos: Albums Posts: 203	Spend a little more and get the Rokinon 14 F2.8 manual focus lens $250 at Adorama it is A GREAT lens if you do not mind manual focus and it is full frame should you move into a full frame camera in the future

02-21-2019, 11:27 AM	#19
billdotjr Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 25 Original Poster	Thank you all for the tips. As said, the budget is around $100 for the moment, $200 is the extreme upper limit. By the way, here in Europe, the Rokinon 14mm F2.8, marketed as Samyang, costs like $450. Regarding the wide / normal lens, I am well aware the 28mm is almost exactly normal, I should have said "on the wider end of the focal range spectrum". Reason I emphasized the wide(r) is that usually the landscape lens discussions end up having lot of people suggesting telephoto lenses 100mm+ argumenting they are good as well. But those I already have. I need ~28mm.

02-21-2019, 11:34 AM	#20
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	There's always some oddballs from the film era that might work out, like this Promaster branded 19-35 zoom; Promaster 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Spectrum 7 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database My Pentax M 28 f2.8 mk2 is quite nice and I think it cost me about $70 shipped to my door via ebay. Lots of options in old primes at 28mm. You probably just have to look and see what's available to you locally or what you're willing to have shipped in from ebay.

02-21-2019, 01:29 PM - 1 Like	#21
MrB1 Pentaxian Join Date: May 2013 Location: Hertfordshire, England Posts: 845	If you are capturing landscapes with little movement, you could go wide angle by making composite images. E.g. Stitching four portrait-oriented shots from the K-5 plus the $100 plastic fantastic 35mm f/2.4 (very sharp) could give a very high resolution (up to 40MP) 2:1 landscape-oriented image. If you haven't got the software already, something like Microsoft ICE is free and does a good job. Philip

02-21-2019, 01:36 PM	#22
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	Originally posted by pres589 I would be looking at manual focus primes to try and meet your cost target which I read is $100ish. Sigma Super-Wide II's are around there. Excellent suggestion. The Sigma 24mm f2.8 is an excellent lens. I use mine a LOT. A very useful focal length. It's very sharp. I paid less than $100 for mine.

02-21-2019, 02:04 PM - 2 Likes	#23
billdotjr Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 25 Original Poster	Wow, so I have just spotted Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 which according to some is just little behind the K 28mm f/3.5 for unbeliveable €44 shipped and within the country. The listing was just couple minutes old. I bought it. I am now wondering what piece of scrap metal I will be receiving. Wish me luck...

02-21-2019, 02:06 PM	#24
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,676	Tamron Adaptall-2 01BB (01B) 24mm f2.5, with the PK-A adapter... I've been able to find the pair for less than $100...

02-21-2019, 02:16 PM	#25
c.a.m Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,189	Originally posted by billdotjr Wow, so I have just spotted Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 which according to some is just little behind the K 28mm f/3.5 for unbeliveable €44 shipped and within the country. The listing was just couple minutes old. I bought it. I am now wondering what piece of scrap metal I will be receiving. Wish me luck... Wow, lucky spotting! Seems to be a very good shipped price and relatively local. The M 28/3.5 is often preferred over the M f/2.8 model – it exhibits better corner-to-corner sharpness and high contrast, and produces gorgeous image colour. Like other M-series prime lenses, this one is well built, compact, and lightweight. It’s a good alternative to the harder-to-find and more-expensive SMC ‘K’ version. If it's in good condition, I think you will enjoy it. And well within the budget -- a bonus! - Craig

02-21-2019, 05:09 PM	#26
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,593	Originally posted by pres589 28mm on a crop Pentax is not wide, it's almost perfectly normal, which is why I love 28's on crop. Agreed My Tamron Adaptall-2 28mm f/2.5 is as good as any I've tried and still available relatively cheaply, especially if you're prepared to forgo open-aperture metering and use one of the older adaptors in stop-down Manual (Green Button) mode. Only possible downside, at 200gm (with mount) it's heavier than some others.

02-21-2019, 05:52 PM - 1 Like	#27
MaineNative Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Photos: Gallery Posts: 280	I would also vote for the DA 21mm if you can find a good used one. I have the original (non-HD) version and love it for landscapes. One comment on your 18-55... if you like the zoom range, the AL II version was a significant improvement in resolution over the original 18-55 kit lens that came on the istDL. (I owned both versions.)

02-21-2019, 08:36 PM	#29
kernos Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 456	This is not a common lens, but one of only a handful of manual focus lenses I use all the time. Spiratone Plura-Coat 24mm 2.8 YS. Mine was $79 with shipping a few years ago. They come up from time to time. Mostly I use it for close focus and even on extension tubes. Spiratone 24mm F2.8 YS Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

02-22-2019, 07:55 AM	#30
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	A 28mm Kino Precision made lens, either the f2 or f2.8, isn't shabby. Usually findable at under $100 in decent condition. I paid $150 for a copy of the f2 version, shipped, after it had been CLA'd by someone know to do good work at this sort of thing. Get a hood that matches the lens on crop; the coatings are not that hot vs. similar era SMC, to say nothing of today's HD coatings from Pentax. Kino also made 24's which I think are pretty decent as well. Build quality is quite good although most of their lenses seem to suffer from sticky aperture blades so watch for that.